Self-closing hydrant



(No Model.) 7 2 SheetsSheet 1.

' O. G. ETTE.

SELF CLOSING HYDRANT. No. 408.091. Patented July 30, 1889.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model,)

0. G. ETT E. SELF CLOSING HYDRANT.

Patented J1 11y 30, 1889. 7

51400444200 Vzd 5% M fl thnu Mar wihwww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. ETTE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SELF-CLOSING HYDRANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 4Q8,091, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed December 14, 1888. Serial No. 293,608. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES G. ETTE, a citizen of the United States, residingat St. Louis,

in the State of Missouri, have invented cer tain' new and useful Improvements in Self- Olosing Hydrants; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichitappertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has reference to an improvement in self-closing hydrants, the object thereof being to simplify the construction of hydrants of this class and produce mechanism which may be adjustable to any pressure and will operate to close the hydrant against the water-pressure and the invention consistsin the construct-ion, arrangement, and combination of the several mechanical parts, substantially as willbe hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved self-closing hydrant. a vertical section on the line x as of Fig.1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of the pyramidal hydrant-cap. Fig. 4:0IS a transverse section of the same, together with the upper part of the main casing, showing the mode of securing the cap in place upon the upper end of the casing. improved hydrant with the cap-plate removed. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sect-ion through the main casing, the outlet-nozzle, the main water-pipe, and the adjacent parts. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 11 y of Fig. 1, and shows also a bottom plan view of the main hydrant-casing. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the valve-body, the valve therein, and the inlet-pipe located at the base of the hydrant. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the main casing, showing one of the lugs on which the operating-lever is fulcrumed.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the diiterent figures of the drawings.

A denotes the main inclosing-casing of the hydrant, within which the mechanical parts whereby it is operated are arranged. This casing may be of any desirable size and shape,

Fig. 2 is Fig. 5 is a top plan View of my it being designed to extend upward from the ground surface for a convenient distance, so that the operating handle, which projects through a slot in the side wall of the casing, may be at a convenient height to be readily grasped by the person who may wish to operate the hydrant.

The form of the casing A shown in the drawings is preferably rectangular and slightly tapering from base to summit. It consists of two right-angled castings a a, each casting forming two of the four sides of the casing, and the said castings being placed together, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to form a rectangular case.

The casing A is surmounted by a pyramidal cap F, having a downwardly-extending peripheral flange f, which receives neatly within it the upper end of the casing A. The said upper end of the casing A is provided on two opposite sides with slotted lugs or projections ct a, through which pass bolts or screws, which also pass through the edge of the cap F, and by means of which the cap is securely fastened to the casing. The encircling flange f is adapted to fit nicely around these lugs a a, as well as around the remainder of the top edge of the casing A. It will be noted that when the cap F is fixed in place the two rightangled castings a a will be firmly held together at' their upper end. This cap F is easily removable, therefore, when it is desired to repair the interior mechanism of the hydrant.

I do not wish to confine myself to any special pyramidal form for the cap, but reserve the liberty of making-it with as many inclined surfaces as may be desired. The purpose of the inclined form of the cap is to prevent the accumulation thereon of snow and ice. It also embellishes the appearance of the hydrant and makes it neater and more ornamental.

The bottom of the main casing A consists of the two triangular plates is 7;, formed integral with the right-angled castings a a, the edges of which plates fit closely together when the sections a a are fastened closely together, this fastening being accomplished at the lower end of the main casing by means of lugs 0 0 on the under surfaces of the plates 7c is, through which lugs pass securing bolts or screws, as shown plainly in Fig. 7. The plates 7ttogether form a flat bottom plate for the casing A, said plate being perforated at its center with a circular opening to permit the passage therethrough of the main hydrant pipe or stem 0, which extends downward for a certain distance into the ground, and is connected to the valve-body B, which is entered by the water-inlet pipe E.

The upper portion of the hydrant pipe or stem 0 is screw-threaded. It is therefore screwed through the circular opening in the bottom of the casing. A jam-nut Z is placed upon the screw-threaded portion of the pipe 0, and is screwed up tightly against the under surface of the bottom of the main casing.

Within the casing A, at a suitable distance from the bottom thereof, is a transverse diaphragm or plate composed of two triangular plates or flanges i 2', which are similar to the plates 71; k, composing the base of the casing, and which are likewise perforated centrally to receive the upper extremity of the screwthreaded end of pipe 0, another jam-nut m being located upon said extremity of pipe C just above this diaphragm. It will thus be seen that by means of the two jam-nuts [and m, screwed tightly against the base of the easing and its internal transverse plate, respectively, the hydrant pipe or stem C is firmly connected to the main casing A. The diaphragm, consisting of plates 6 11, serves also another purpose, however, which will hereinafter be alluded to.

In the valve-body B is the valve which controls the water-inlet, by the operation of which valve the water is admitted to the hydrant or excluded therefrom. This valve consists, essentially, of a plunger M, the upper end of which is internally screw-threaded where it incases the lower correspondingly screwthreaded extremity of the plunger-pipe or main water-supply pipe D, that extends up through the hydrant pipe or stem C, and also through the main casing, terminating at a point near the lever-handle, to which it is attached. The detailed construction of the valve-body and inlet is shown in Fig. 8.

The valve-body B, at a suitable point between its upper and lower ends, is pierced with lateral waste-openings I). The plunger M is provided externally with cup-washers L L and the usual metallic washers, whereby the cup washers are held in place. The plunger M is hollow and its lower end is provided with suit-able washers K, which are fashioned to fit closely upon the valve-seat J, the Washers on the lower end of the plunger being arranged to rest upon the horizontal face of the valve-seat, and also to slide vertically against the inner upright sides of said seat. The valve is thus constructed and arranged so that it may operate to keep the forations b I), through which the waste water makes its escape.

Around the valve-body B is preferably located a cylindrical casing 0, open at its lower end and adapted to receive the waste water that courses out of the valve-body through the perforations Z2 b. It is notintended here to explain specifically and in detail the const-ruction of this valve in the base of the hydrant, but only to indicate the general construction of the same, in order to make the explanation of the present invention fully understood.

The main casing A, at a convenient point in one side thereof, near the upper end, is slotted, and on each side of this slot a lug or projection A, of suitable size and shape, extends into the interior of the casing. These parallel lugs A are provided with a series of apertures I) Z) Z), the number of which may vary. Between these lugs, and projecting through the slot in the casing, is the operating-handle H, whereby the hydrant-valve is operated. This lever is provided with a series of apertures h h h, and is fulcrumed bet-ween the parallel lugs A by means of a pin g, Which passes through one of these apertures, and also through two opposite openings in said lugs. (See Fig. 5.) The upper extremity of the main water-pipe D is provided with upwardly-extending parallel projections or lugs (Z (Z. The handle H is located between these projections, and is connected to the waterpipe D by means of a pin 0 passing through it and the projections (Z (Z. (See Figs. 5 and 6.)

To the inner extremity of the lever-handle H is connected a weight I, which depends vertically within the main casing A, it being in the present example of my invention connected to the handle H by means of a link .9. This weight may be of greater or less size, as desired. \Vhen disconnected from the handle H, while the hydrant is undergoing repairs at any time, it will rest upon the diaphragm, consisting of plates it. The diaphragm, therefore, serves this purpose in addition to what has already been said concerning it, to wit: it serves to sustain the weight I when not connected to the handle II.

G denotes the hydrant-spout or outlet-nozzle. It projects from the main casin g through a slot in one of the sides thereof, and is connected to and communicates 'with the main water-pipe D, so that water ascending through said pipe will emerge through the spout G and be discharged from the hydrant. This spout may be connected to the main water-pipe in any suitable manner. In Fig. 6 the detailed construction of its connection is clearly shown. In that figure it will be seen that a short pipe is formed integral with the upper end of the water-pipe D, the outer end of which short pipe is internallyscrew-threaded to engage the externally-screw-threaded end of the curved pipe that forms the spout G. The slot through which the spout projects from the hydrant is cut vertically in the side Wall of the casing, and is long enough to permit said spout to have a range of vertical movement for a certain distance above and below its normal position during the upward and downward movements of the water-pipe D consequent upon the actuation of the latter by the lever-handle or the weight I. A vertical plate I, carried by the spout G,Whi'ch passes through an opening therein, serves to cover the slot in the side of the casing, and thus keep it closed during the oscillations of the spout, thereby improving the appearance of the hydrant and concealing the opening in the side thereof, which might be unsightly.

The operation of my improved self-closing hydrant will be evident from the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement of the several mechanical parts constituting the same withoutthe need of much additional description. It will be observed that the hydrant is adjustable to any degree of pressure. The holes in the lever-handle I-I, through which the fulcrum-pin of this lever passes, enable the lever to be adjusted so as to change the distance from the fulcrum-point of said lever to the weight on the end thereof, and thus adapt the-mechanism to suit any ordinary degree of pressure that may existin the main water-pipe which enters the valvebody from the highest to the lowest pressure.

For the highest pressure the fulcrum-pin will pass through the inner of the, series of holes in the lever-handle, and for the lowest pressure it will pass through the other hole.

It Will be manifest that the main casing A entirely surrounds and protects the interior mechanism of the hydrant from injury. It will, furthermore, be observed that when the hydrant automatically closes this closure will take place against the water-pressure. This is preferable to closing with the pressure, as it enables the hydrant to be so constructed that it can be easily repaired without being removed from the ground. It also prevents reaction and knocking of the water in the pipes, which often occurs in a self-closing hydrant when it operates to close with the pre. sure of the'water.

In my present improved construction of self-closing hydrant all springs are dispensed with; also, there are no washers or packing in the top operating mechanism. I use a weight which is entirely concealed from view within the casing. The construction of the hydrant is so simple that the parts cannot well get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a self-closing hydrant, the combination of the main casing having a perforated base, the perforated partition or diaphragm within the casing, and the main hydrant pipe or stem connected to said base and diaphragm,

hra m and lower valve-bod and the main P e water-supply pipe within the hydrant-pipe, but independent thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a self-closing hydrant, the combination of the sectional main casing A, the sectional perforated base therefor, consisting of the parts k, the partition within the casing, consisting of the plates 2' t', the main hydrantstem 0, passing through said base and partition of the main casing, the valve-body connected to the lower end of said stem, the valve within the valve-body, the vertical wa ter-pipe D, the lever I-I, fulcrumed between lugs A on the main casing, and the weight I, suspended 011 the inner end of the lever, substantially as described.

4c. The combination, with the main casing A, consisting of the two right-angled sections a a, said casing having a base composed of plates 70 7c, integral with the right-angled sections, and having also a partition consistingof the plates t' 2', also integral with the rightangled sections, the hydrant pipe or stem 0, connected with the main casing, the valvebody B, containing the hydrant-valve, the

water-pipe D, having spout or nozzle Gr, the operatin g-lever II, and the weight I, connected to said lever, substantially as described.

5. In a self-closing hydrant, the combination of the main casing, its perforated base, the perforated diaphragm within the casing, the main hydrant-pipe connected to said diaphragm and the lower valve-body, and the water-pipe connected to the valve and independent of the main hydrant-pipe, substan tially as described.

6. The combination of the sectional casin g A, its flanged pyramidal cap, sectional perforated base and sectional perforated partition, the main hydrant-stem 0, connected to said base and diaphragm and having jamnuts l and m thereon, which bear tightly against the base and diaphragm, and the valve, main water-supply pipe, and lever-handle, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. ETTE.

WVitnesses:

JOHN D. HENGEB, F. W. PETERS.

IIO 

